Sierra Leone Business Forum (SLBF)

advertisement

Sierra Leone Business Forum

Support for Improving the Business Environment

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Sierra Leone Business Forum (SLBF) : Areas of engagement

A structure for dialogue between private sector and government:

Supporting Admin Barriers

Reforms

Private Sector Development

• Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework)

• Providing technical input on private sector priorities

• Validating and legitimising collective private sector interests and priorities

• Maintaining visibility of key issues

• Advocacy for continuing the reform agenda

• Supporting communications and public awareness of reform issues and progress

• Private sector advocacy on sectoral priorities

• Consultation on sectoral policies

• Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework)

• Coordination with SLIEPA on export development and investment promotion priorities

Private Sector Initiatives

• Advocacy for private sector priorities

(e.g. access to finance)

• Promoting visibility of small-scale entrepreneurs and their needs

• .. Others to be determined by SLBF and its members

SLBF is the private sector’s and Gov‘t’s platform for:

•Outreach, public awareness and communication

• Advocacy and consultation

• Supporting private sector’s ability to engage with government on economic policy developments

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

• Supporting advocacy for reform within government

How SLBF will support RABI reforms and PSD

Working Groups

Steering Committee

Coordinating

Secretariat

National Coordinator

+ 2 staff

Working Groups

Group 1:

Business

Start-Up

Group 2:

Tax and Customs

Group 3:

Land, Locating and Planning

Group 4:

Investment

&Export

Promotion

PSD Strategy

Working

Groups

Issues Raised by

Private Sector:

Working Groups

Technical

Committee

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Technical

Committee

Technical

Committee

Technical

Committee

Technical

Committees

Technical

Committees

SLBF Participants

Coordinating secretariat

Technical

Committee

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Steering committee

Working groups

Executive Director

Economist &

Researcher

Admin Barr Coordinator

PSD Strategy

Coordinator

Minister Trade/Industry,

President CCISL

DFID Representative

Parliamentary Rep.

Other Government and

Private Sector Groups

Expert Consultants

Line Ministry/Agency Managers

Directly Interested Private Sector

Private Sector

Ministry/Agency

Directors

Civil Society

Board Membership

Objective: Assure Broad Representation of Private Sector and Relevant Government Institutions

Legislative

Committee

DFID

Minister of

Finance

Minister of

Trade/

Industry

Attorney

General

SLIEPA

Lebanese

Business

Comm’ty

Indian

Merchants

Assoc

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Importers

Assoc

SLCCIA

Market

Women’s

Assoc

SLAM

SLIBA

Bankers

Assoc

Removing Administrative Barriers to Investment

Objectives

Business Start-Up

Reducing costs of starting and doing business

• Streamlining processes

• Information storage and dissemination procedures

• Publication of regulations and procedures

Land and Locating

Information storage and dissemination procedures

• Land titling procedures published

• Titling system set up in

Land Office

• Establish framework for cadastre (begin pilot study)

Operations (Tax and

Customs)

Information storage and dissemination procedures

• Initiate study of effective tax burden

• Establish HS2002 nomenclature system

• Publication of tax and customs systems and procedures

Achievements

Business Start-Up

New streamlined 4step process

• Mandatory use of solicitor removed

• Exchange control permission removed

• Work & residence permits unified

Land and Locating

Freetown planning policy and masterplan to be completed by Q2 2007

Investment Promotion and Export Agencies

Restructuring SLEDIC into 2 agencies

• Legislative change to support implementation

• Establish new organisation structures and procedures

• Capacity-building/training

Operations (Tax and

Customs)

Advance tax payment for new businesses no longer required

• Streamlined customs processes and computerisation of customs underway

Investment Promotion and Export Agencies

New SLIEPA legislation in process

• Transition management and restructuring to commence Q3 2007

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Other Private Sector Development Programmes

PSD Strategy Programme: Ministry of Trade & Industry/ DFID

Policy Development

•Align sectoral and national

PSD objectives

• Develop national policy document

•Capacity strengthening for policy unit

• Consultations

• Approvals

• 3-year Implementation

Roadmap

Legal Reform

•Define legislation needs to support policy

• Detailed audit of existing commercial laws

• Programme of revision and creation of new laws

•Establish commercial courts

• Support to ongoing commercial law reforms

Priority Programmes

• National and sectoral initiatives for trade and investment promotion

• Compliance with international conventions

• Institutional reform, strengthening, capacity building

• Investment promotion conferences, other outreach

Business Culture

• Set up consultation forums with private sector groups

• Capacity building and training(government and private sector bodies)

• Communications and public awareness

• CSR promotion

• Diaspora engagement

• MTI website

Support to National Commission for Privatisation: NCP/DFID

2 year assistance to NCP Secretariat – advisors in power, transport, ports, water, financial services, commercial sectors.

Also communications, regulation and legal support

Supporting and Related Activities: FIAS/DFID/World Bank

• informal sector survey

• study of Diaspora investment trends

• access to finance for SMEs

• Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS)

• Intellectual Property Rights legislation

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Some Key Private Sector Priorities for Consideration*

Policy Issues – Dialogues with GOSL and Development Partners

Legislative and Regulatory Reforms

Financial Sector Reforms and Capital Markets Development

Shared Responsibilities

Informing the Private Sector Strategy

Holding ourselves and each other accountable

Adapting the business culture

Business Issues) – Dialogues Between Each Other

Access to Capital (Debt and Equity investments)

Operational Risks

Talent Development and Training

Dispute Resolution

Value chain linkages

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview * Validation required

Roll-out Strategy A phased roll out, ramping up the visibility and impact over time

March 22 nd 2007 – Inaugural Steering Committee meeting

Familiarization, Commitment and Engagement

April 12 th 2007 – 2 nd Steering Committee and Informal Gathering

Update on Admin Barriers and other reform initiatives

Working groups development

Course setting

M & E Frameworks

May 24 th 2007 – Formal launch

Press event

Communicate progress to date and high priority areas for the future

August 15 th 2007 Q3 Steering Committee

Strategy Assessment and Execution Planning

September 2007- New Administration Engagement and Public

Communications

2007 03 22 SLBF Overview

Download